Charles Emmanuel de Savoie, 3rd Duc de Nemours (7 February 1567 15 August 1595), was known as the
prince of Genevois during his childhood. He was the
Duke of Nemours Duke of Nemours was a title in the Peerage of France. The name refers to Nemours in the ÃŽle-de-France region of north-central France.
History
In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Lordship of Nemours, in the Gatinais, France, was a possession of th ...
from 1585 to his death in 1595, during the
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the term which is used in reference to a period of civil war between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants, commonly called Huguenots, which lasted from 1562 to 1598. According to estim ...
.
Life
Charles Emmanuel was the son of
Jacques of Savoy and
Anne of Este, the widow of
Francis, Duke of Guise
Francis de Lorraine II, the first Prince of Joinville, also Duke of Guise and Duke of Aumale (french: François de Lorraine; 17 February 1519 – 24 February 1563), was a French general and statesman. A prominent leader during the Italian War of ...
. He was duke at a volatile time, and subsequently was involved in many political intrigues, mostly by his relationship on his mother's side with the
House of Guise
The House of Guise (pronunciation: ¡É¥iz Dutch: ''Wieze, German: Wiese'') was a prominent French noble family, that was involved heavily in the French Wars of Religion. The House of Guise was the founding house of the Principality of Joinvill ...
. The
Duke of Guise
Count of Guise and Duke of Guise (pronounced ¡É¥iz were titles in the French nobility.
Originally a seigneurie, in 1417 Guise was erected into a county for René, a younger son of Louis II of Anjou.
While disputed by the House of Luxembourg (1 ...
was one of the leaders of the
Catholic League opposing the
Huguenot
The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Be ...
s, and Charles Emmanuel sympathised with their cause. However, after the assassination of
Henry I, Duke of Guise
Henry I, Prince of Joinville, Duke of Guise, Count of Eu (31 December 1550 – 23 December 1588), sometimes called ('Scarface'), was the eldest son of Francis, Duke of Guise, and Anna d'Este. His maternal grandparents were Ercole II d'Este, Du ...
and his brother the
Cardinal of Guise, Charles Emmanuel was imprisoned by the
Huguenots
The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a Religious denomination, religious group of French people, French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss politica ...
in 1588, but was able to escape.
Charles Emmanuel fought against the Huguenot forces for some years; he fought at the
Battle of Arques
The Battle of Arques occurred on 15–29 September 1589 between the French royal forces of King Henry IV of France and troops of the Catholic League commanded by Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne, during the eighth and final war (1585-1598) ...
in 1589. That same year, he was the
governor of Paris, as the
Huguenot
The Huguenots ( , also , ) were a religious group of French Protestants who held to the Reformed, or Calvinist, tradition of Protestantism. The term, which may be derived from the name of a Swiss political leader, the Genevan burgomaster Be ...
forces, led by
Henry of Navarre
Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarch ...
besieged Paris. During the siege, King
Henry III of France
Henry III (french: Henri III, né Alexandre Édouard; pl, Henryk Walezy; lt, Henrikas Valua; 19 September 1551 – 2 August 1589) was King of France from 1574 until his assassination in 1589, as well as King of Poland and Grand Duke of ...
perished, and Henry of Navarre soon declared himself King
Henry IV of France
Henry IV (french: Henri IV; 13 December 1553 – 14 May 1610), also known by the epithets Good King Henry or Henry the Great, was King of Navarre (as Henry III) from 1572 and King of France from 1589 to 1610. He was the first monarc ...
. Charles Emmanuel escaped, and fought the newly proclaimed King at the
Ivry in 1590, which was a decisive loss for the Catholic League. The same year he commanded Catholic forces, of nearly 50,000 men, during the
Siege of Paris. During the siege, Charles Emmanuel, along with other nobles swore to keep Paris for the Catholic faith and preferring death to swearing allegiance to the
king of Navarre
This is a list of the kings and queens of kingdom of Pamplona, Pamplona, later kingdom of Navarre, Navarre. Pamplona was the primary name of the kingdom until its union with Kingdom of Aragon, Aragon (1076–1134). However, the territorial desig ...
, as the Catholic League called him.
After the defeat, Charles Emmanuel strongly disagreed with his half-brother and long-time ally
Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne
Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne (26 March 1554 – 3 October 1611), or Charles de Guise, was a French nobleman of the house of Guise and a military leader of the Catholic League, which he headed during the French Wars of Religion, followi ...
(also of the
House of Guise
The House of Guise (pronunciation: ¡É¥iz Dutch: ''Wieze, German: Wiese'') was a prominent French noble family, that was involved heavily in the French Wars of Religion. The House of Guise was the founding house of the Principality of Joinvill ...
), who advocated conciliation with
Henry IV. Charles Emmanuel withdrew to his government in
Lyonnais
The Lyonnais () is a historical province of France which owes its name to the city of Lyon.
The geographical area known as the ''Lyonnais'' became part of the Kingdom of Burgundy after the division of the Carolingian Empire. The disintegratio ...
, where he endeavoured to make himself independent from the French crown. He was imprisoned, however, in the
chateau of Pierre-Encise by the
archbishop of Lyon
The Archdiocese of Lyon (Latin: ''Archidiœcesis Lugdunensis''; French: ''Archidiocèse de Lyon''), formerly the Archdiocese of Lyon–Vienne–Embrun, is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The Archbishops ...
. Again, he successfully escaped, and decided to attack
Lyon
Lyon,, ; Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the third-largest city and second-largest metropolitan area of France. It is located at the confluence of the rivers Rhône and Saône, to the northwest of t ...
. The intervention of the
Constable de Montmorency
Anne de Montmorency, 1st Duke of Montmorency (15 March 1493, Chantilly, Oise12 November 1567, Paris) was a French soldier, statesman and diplomat. He became Marshal of France and Constable of France and served five kings.
Early life
Montmorency ...
thwarted his attack however, and his attempt at independence failed.
Charles Emmanuel died at
Annecy
Annecy ( , ; frp, Èneci or ) is the prefecture and largest city of the Haute-Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of Southeastern France. It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy, south of Geneva, Switzerland. Nicknamed ...
on 15 August 1595, leaving the Duchy of Nemour to his brother
Henri de Savoie.
See also
*
Duke of Nemours Duke of Nemours was a title in the Peerage of France. The name refers to Nemours in the ÃŽle-de-France region of north-central France.
History
In the 12th and 13th centuries, the Lordship of Nemours, in the Gatinais, France, was a possession of th ...
*
House of Guise
The House of Guise (pronunciation: ¡É¥iz Dutch: ''Wieze, German: Wiese'') was a prominent French noble family, that was involved heavily in the French Wars of Religion. The House of Guise was the founding house of the Principality of Joinvill ...
*
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the term which is used in reference to a period of civil war between French Catholic Church, Catholics and Protestantism, Protestants, commonly called Huguenots, which lasted from 1562 to 1598. According to estim ...
*
Catholic League (French)
The Catholic League of France (french: Ligue catholique), sometimes referred to by contemporary (and modern) Catholics as the Holy League (), was a major participant in the French Wars of Religion. The League, founded and led by Henry I, Duke of ...
References
Sources
*
*
1567 births
1595 deaths
Counts of Geneva
Savoie, Charles Emmanuel de
Savoie, Charles Emmanuel de
Princes of Savoy
{{France-noble-stub